Overview

Today, the environments that humans occupy in space are designed for survival. Humans are carefully shuttled to and from space, and during their relatively short stays, they are provided with minimum supplies to remain alive and able to perform experiments. As we begin to plan less for short visits and more for life in space (such as a six to eight month trip to Mars and beyond) the question becomes: What does human culture look like in space?

This talk will explore how human culture, design, and creativity might evolve as we begin to live in space, and the unique environmental conditions that might guide us in certain directions, just as the environment on Earth has. It will discuss space tourism, living in zero gravity, and some experiments in art and design that hint at future aesthetics.

Objective

Convey what opportunities exist at the outset of a more democratized New Space age, and call out the aesthetics, ethics, and cultural frontiers we find ourselves faced with at the end of the second decade of this century.

Target Audience

Those interested in the future of human life in space

Five Things Audience Members Will Learn

The history of human culture in space

Unique design constraints and considerations when designing for zero gravity